Military remains on alert for riots in C. Java towns

JAKARTA (JP): Soldiers and police remained on alert yesterday in anticipation of a possible spread of unrest in Central Java's Rembang regency, following two minor disturbances in the regency's coastal towns of Kragan and Sarang earlier this week.

The Rembang military command's chief of staff Maj. Suparno said 300 security personnel had been deployed around the two towns, comprising 200 personnel from the regency's police and military force, and 100 from the neighboring Ambarawa district military command.

"The situation is under control, but we have to anticipate the outbreak of riots," Suparno told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

No one was injured or arrested in the latest outbreak. "But we are still looking for those who spread the rumors which caused the unrest," Suparno said.

Late Monday evening, a mob stormed shops in Kragan subdistrict after hearing rumors of price hikes. Seventeen shops were destroyed.

Suparno said authorities quickly quelled the unrest within a few hours, but another incident broke out in the neighboring subdistrict of Sarang Tuesday night.

Rembang is about 115 kilometers east of Central Java's capital of Semarang. Kragan subdistrict is 35 kilometers east of the regency town of Rembang.

The two riots were the latest incidents of violence linked to the country's deepening economic crisis.

"The violence occurred when people heard rumors that the price of basic daily commodities and fishing accessories had risen," Suparno said. Kragan and Sarang villagers are predominantly fishermen.

In Monday evening's riot in Kragan, 100 people attacked and looted shops, throwing their contents onto the streets in a four hour rampage.

Rumors had circulated in the town that shops were selling kerosene for Rp 1,000 (eight U.S. cents) a liter, compared to the usual Rp 250 (two cents).

But according to security officials, the price of kerosene had not increased.

A fortnight ago several East Java towns were also hit by unrest as a result of sudden price hikes and the portioning of several basic commodities.

Hundreds of people living in the outskirts of Jember, 198 kilometers southeast of the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya, ran amok and destroyed stores, kiosks and supermarkets, which sold basic commodities.

A similar disturbances hit Kalibaru subdistrict in Banyuwangi, 289 kilometers east of Surabaya, and Pasuruan, 90 kilometers east of Surabaya.

East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman alleged that the riots in the three cities were provoked by those with past communist links. (aan)